2 Esdras 7:16-18

Revised Standard Version

¹⁶ And why have you not considered in your mind what is to come, rather than what is now present?”

The Fate of the Ungodly

¹⁷ Then I answered and said, “O sovereign Lord, behold, thou hast ordained in thy law that the righteous shall inherit these things, but that the ungodly shall perish. ¹⁸ The righteous therefore can endure difficult circumstances while hoping for easier ones; but those who have done wickedly have suffered the difficult circumstances and will not see the easier ones.”